Yeon-Kyeng Lee

South Korean time trade-off values for EQ-5D health states: modeling with observed values for 101 health states.

OBJECTIVES This study establishes the South Korean population-based preference weights for EQ-5D based on values elicited from a representative national sample using the time trade-off (TTO) method. METHODS The data for this paper came from a South Korean EQ-5D valuation study where 1307 representative respondents were invited to participate and a total of 101 health states defined by the EQ-5D descriptive system were directly valued. Both aggregate and individual level modeling were conducted to generate values for all 243 health states defined by EQ-5D. Various regression techniques and model specifications were also examined in order to produce the best fit model. Final model selection was based on minimizing the difference between the observed and estimated value for each health state. RESULTS The N3 model yielded the best fit for the observed TTO value at the aggregate level. It had a mean absolute error of 0.029 and only 15 predictions out of 101 had errors exceeding 0.05 in absolute magnitude. CONCLUSIONS The study successfully establishes South Korean population-based preference weights for the EQ-5D. The value set derived here is based on a representative population sample, limiting the interpolation space and possessing better model performance. Thus, this EQ-5D value set should be given preference for use with the South Korean population.

Relationship between intention of novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and vaccination coverage rate

We carried out this study to describe the difference between intention to receive vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) before the vaccination campaign and actual vaccine coverage rate after vaccination campaign; and to find out the factors affecting the acceptability. We analyzed data on intention to receive vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) and actual vaccination coverage rate from IR (immunization registry). In a survey of pre-vaccination, the sample size was 1042 and the survey results were weighted with gender and age distribution for sample distribution to be similar to population distribution. Although the intention to receive vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) was high, the actual vaccination coverage was lower than their intention. The factors affecting their intention were the degree of fear for novel influenza A (H1N1), the possibility to be infected with the virus, priority for production of novel influenza vaccine between timing and safety, and belief for effectiveness of novel influenza vaccine. Besides 2009 influenza A (H1N1) vaccination experience developing to resolve the effecting factors on intentions to receive vaccine, which would be the effective way to prepare for anther pandemic in the future.

Estimation of Nationwide Vaccination Coverage and Comparison of Interview and Telephone Survey Methodology for Estimating Vaccination Status

This study compared interview and telephone surveys to select the better method for regularly estimating nationwide vaccination coverage rates in Korea. Interview surveys using multi-stage cluster sampling and telephone surveys using stratified random sampling were conducted. Nationwide coverage rates were estimated in subjects with vaccination cards in the interview survey. The interview survey relative to the telephone survey showed a higher response rate, lower missing rate, higher validity and a less difference in vaccination coverage rates between card owners and non-owners. Primary vaccination coverage rate was greater than 90% except for the fourth dose of DTaP (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis), the third dose of polio, and the third dose of Japanese B encephalitis (JBE). The DTaP4: Polio3: MMR1 fully vaccination rate was 62.0% and BCG1:HepB3:DTaP4:Polio3:MMR1 was 59.5%. For age-appropriate vaccination, the coverage rate was 50%-80%. We concluded that the interview survey was better than the telephone survey. These results can be applied to countries with incomplete registry and decreasing rates of landline telephone coverage due to increased cell phone usage and countries. Among mandatory vaccines, efforts to increase vaccination rate for the fourth dose of DTaP, the third dose of polio, JBE and regular vaccinations at recommended periods should be conducted in Korea.

2009-2010 novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccination coverage in the Republic of Korea.

This study aimed to assess vaccination coverage for novel influenza A (H1N1) in Korea using a immunization registry system as the data source. Vaccination coverage was found to be 26.1% for the total population and 54.4% for priority groups targeted by a national vaccination campaign between October 27, 2009, to March 31, 2010. The factors associated with increased coverage were rapid vaccination and free vaccination; these factors may need to be considered in future pandemics.

Results of Tuberculosis Contact Investigation in Congregate Settings in Korea, 2013

Objectives This study aimed to check the status of the contact investigation in congregate settings to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in the Republic of Korea. Methods The “Integrated System for Disease and Public Health Management” is used for care and follow-up for patients and contacts of TB. We downloaded data for contact investigations conducted from January to December 2013. Results A total of 1,200 contact investigations in congregate settings were carried out by 25 field investigators in 2013. We performed the status of contact investigation, TB, and LTBI rate by age, accept rate of LTBI treatment, and complete rate of LTBI treatment during 2013. A total of 1,547 index TB patients, 149,166 contacts, and 259 additional TB patients were found through the investigation. Kindergartens showed the highest LTBI rate, 19.8%, among educational facilities. The second highest was in elementary schools and the subtotal LTBI rate of educational facilities was 7.8%. Social welfare/correctional facilities and workplaces showed relatively high LTBI rates of 23.8% and 23.6%, respectively. By age, individuals >35 years showed the highest LTBI rate, followed by those aged 0–4 years, 30–34 years, and 5–9 years, with rates of 18.1%, 16.4%, and 15.4% respectively. When comparing the tuberculin skin test (TST) positive conversion ratio by facility, middle school and high school were relatively high compared to the others. The accept rate of LTBI treatment in the workplace was lowest at 63% and the complete rate in elementary schools was lowest at 76.5%. Conclusion TB contact investigation is considered as a meaningful strategy for preventing TB outbreaks in congregate settings and decreasing the prevalence of TB in young people. Results of this study could be used to establish the LTBI management policy.

Tuberculosis prevention and care in Korea: Evolution of policy and practice

Tuberculosis (TB) in Korea remains a serious health problem with an estimated 77 per 100,000 incidence rate for 2016. This makes Korea as the only OECD country with high incidence of TB. The government has increased budgets and strengthened patient management policies since 2011. The management of latent tuberculosis was added to the response with strengthened and extensive contact investigations in the five-year tuberculosis control plan (2013–2017) and implementation was established in 2013. Due to these efforts Korea has achieved an average 5.2% reduction annually in tuberculosis incidence rate between 2011 and 2016. To further expedite the reduction of the TB burden the government has introduced additional measures including mandatory screening of latent tuberculosis infection for community workers in congregate settings including daycare centers for children, kindergarten, and teachers in schools and health care workers in clinics and hospitals to solve the problems identified through contact investigations in 2017. Providing high quality free diagnosis and treatment of active TB including for multidrug resistant TB combined with active contact investigations is the mainstay of the current programmatic response in Korea. However, the limitation of existing tools for LTBI pose challenge including absence of best mechanism for effective communication with professionals and the public, the need for at least 3 months of treatment and the risk of side effects. Developing effective tools will help to overcome these challenges.

A Comparative Study of the Administrative Behavior of Vaccination and Satisfaction of Physicians according to the National Expanded Programme on Immunization in Korea

Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University Department of Preventive Medicine, Keimyung University College of Medicine Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Daejeon Health Sciences College Division of Vaccine Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Programme, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A Study on the Immunization information Mobile Services using the Smart-Phone

Immunization information recorded on the Immunization rate in the community to identify the effects of Immunization can be monitored Immunization during an accident can be used as a basis for investigating the cause. Thus, Immunization records, and more efficient management in the private and public institutions have conducted Immunization information systems to manage the development of integrated system has to be. So, the government projects that promote Immunization records were computerized registration. And, in 2009 the development of Immunization registration system was completed. In this paper, we use the information to a variety of Immunization using smart phone design and implement mobile service.